St Lucia carnival celebrations to go off with a bang

St Lucia will be celebrating the cultural extravaganza that is Carnival with a calendar full of electrifying events throughout June and July. With the introduction of a number of new activities, this year promises to be bigger and more diverse than ever before. More than 3,000 locals and visiting festival-goers are expected to come together to revel in the annual cultural showpiece.

Highlights of the Carnival include the Calypso Monarch Finals, where the crowning of the Carnival King and Queen takes place, the Panorama Championships, seeing steelbands competing for the top spot and the legendary Street Parade culminating on July 16th - 17th, where revellers can marvel at the magnificent costumes, music and dance on display.

Preparation for the eagerly anticipated event starts well in advance with the official launch taking place last Sunday. A street parade leading into Mindoo Park, along with a dance melange and musical performances by top Calypsonian and Soca acts were on hand to make sure the launch went with a bang. The steel, national panorama and junior pan champions were also showcasing their talents on the day, giving visitors a taste of what is to come in the weeks ahead.

Local radio stations have been playing an assortment of Soca songs, adding to the excitement on island and giving extra exposure to the local bands as well as the more high profile acts. Ian Herman, Marketing Manager for the St. Lucia Tourist Board said “The hype on the radio has been building up for some weeks now and this year’s Carnival definitely boasts music of a higher quality. We’ve also seen bands putting lots more into the creativity of the event, especially the costumes”.

The recently appointed Minister for Tourism, Senator Allen Chastanet is keen to ensure even more emphasis is placed on the St. Lucia Carnival, and as a result, budget for festivities this year has topped an impressive EC$1 million. This has not only allowed for more promotional activity on island and further a field, it means the party activities will be more extravagant than previously.

There is also a purpose built up-to-date website where pictures and news from the Carnival will be uploaded as it happens, adding a new interactive element to the event (luciancarnival.com). The Minister hopes to increase the magnitude of the Carnival year on year, making this a very exciting time for St. Lucia, and the lively and affirmative atmosphere on island reflects this.

St Lucia is a world-class Carnival destination, offering a variety of accommodation to suit every need from five star luxury to beachfront apartments and family-friendly resorts. And when you are not relishing in the Carnival, the island has a variety of family activities on offer such as a trip on the Brig Unicorn, the ship used in Pirates of the Caribbean, while fantastic kids clubs and babysitting facilities are also provided by most hotels.

So come along and experience the wonder that is a beautiful Caribbean island during the festive season. The buzzing atmosphere, colourful costumes, energetic dancing in the streets and vibrant music are not to be missed, and with the guarantee of a few surprises unveiled along the way, not being there is simply not an option!

For more details visit Stlucia.org or Luciancarnival.com.